Even if the weather can't make up its mind this summer, there's definitely a ray of sunshine on the horizon -- the Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray will go on sale in August.

That's right -- the lightweight Androidphone that's extra-friendly on pockets is listed by Carphone Warehouse for an August release. That's excellent news for anyone wearing particularly tight trousers this summer.

The Ray sports a 3.3-inch touchscreen in a body that's just 9.4mm thick. It runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread with Sony Ericsson's own user interface slapped on top. It also offers 'Facebook inside Xperia', a new feature that grabs your Facebook photos, calendar and updates, and smushes them into your phone.

Inside the Ray, there's a 1GHz processor to keep apps ticking over. There's also a front-facing camera for video calls and an 8.1-megapixel camera for snappy snaps while you're out and about.

The camera is powered by the Exmor R CMOS sensor that first appeared in the Xperia Arc. The phone plays back 720p high-definition video in extreme good-o-vision thanks to the Bravia Engine image-processing software that also made its debut in the Arc. Both these features borrow from the technology in Sony's cameras and televisions.

So far we know the Ray will beam down on Three and through the Carphone Warehouse. Pricing is yet to be confirmed, but we're hoping its dinky dimensions will keep the phone as light on the wallet as it is in the pocket.

Is the Ray a ray of light in the world of smart phones, or does it deserve a blast of the CNET UK death ray? Let us know in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.

About the author

Rich Trenholm is a senior editor at CNET where he covers everything from phones to bionic implants. Based in London since 2007, he has travelled the world seeking out the latest and best consumer technology for your enjoyment.
See full bio